Salem-News.com Timber articles

Wasps, Squirrels Damaging Oregon White Oak Trees

"The damage to these trees seems to be common around the Willamette Valley," says ODF Forest Pathologist Alan Kanaskie.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Recently, stewardship foresters with the Oregon Department of Forestry have been receiving phone calls from landowners, homeowners and other members of the public concerned about the appearance of numerous dead branches and leaves on Oregon white oak trees.

Investigation by agency foresters resulted in the discovery that the damage is being caused by both insects and mammals.

Oregon`s Timber Harvest Climbs for 4th Straight Year

Timber harvest increases can be attributed to a strong export market for Oregon logs in 2013, coupled with a domestic market recovery, particularly in housing.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - In 2013, Oregon's timber harvest rose to 4.2 billion board feet, marking four consecutive years of increase from the recession low of 2.72 billion board feet in 2009.

"This was the first harvest above four billion board feet in seven years," said ODF principal economist Brandon Kaetzel, "and represents a 12 percent increase over the 2012 harvest of 3.75 billion board feet."